The Benefits of Smart Nanoparticles in Dental Applications
Abstract
Dentistry, as a branch of medicine, has undergone continuous evolution over time. Thescientific world has focused its attention on the development of new methods and materials withimproved properties that meet the needs of patients. For this purpose, the replacement of so-called“passive” dental materials that do not interact with the oral environment with “smart/intelligent”materials that have the capability to change their shape, color, or size in response to an externallystimulus, such as the temperature, pH, light, moisture, stress, electric or magnetic fields, and chemicalcompounds, has received much attention in recent years. A strong trend in dental applications isto apply nanotechnology and smart nanomaterials such as nanoclays, nanofibers, nanocomposites,nanobubbles, nanocapsules, solid-lipid nanoparticles, nanospheres, metallic nanoparticles, nanotubes,and nanocrystals. Among the nanomaterials, the smart nanoparticles present several advantagescompared to other materials, creating the possibility to use them in various dental applications,including preventive dentistry, endodontics, restoration, and periodontal diseases. This review isfocused on the recent developments and dental applications (drug delivery systems and restorationmaterials) of smart nanoparticles.
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